What you need to know about MDA's SHIELD MA-IDIQ
Oct 07, 2025
Reading Time: 8 minutes
Table of Contents
- NEW: MDA Releases Amendments 0001 and 0002
- Topic 1: What is MDA SHIELD?
- Topic 2: Am I a Good Fit for MDA SHIELD?
- Topic 3: Submission Requirements
- Topic 4: What to Do Now
NEW: MDA Releases Amendment 0001 and Amendment 0002
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has released two amendments to the SHIELD MA-IDIQ RFP with important updates for all offerors.
Key Amendment 0001 Changes
- Deadline Extended: Proposals are now due Oct. 16, 2025, at 4 p.m. CT (previously Oct. 10, 2025)
- Q&A: MDA released a massive 150-page Q&A with 1,562 questions and answers, clarifying many proposal requirements.
- Cybersecurity: The DFARS clause 252.204-7021, which required Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, has been removed.
- NAICS Clarification: The IDIQ now only uses NAICS 541715. All task and delivery orders will use this code. Attachment C-01_NAICS_Codes has been removed.
- Period of Performance: Now scheduled for Dec. 29, 2025 to Dec. 28, 2028, three weeks later than previously planned.
- Ordering Procedures: Offerors are no longer required to respond to all Ordering Contract Officer (OCO) requests.
- Foreign Persons: Disclosure of lawful U.S. permanent residents and foreign nationals is now required before each task order award, not just before the base contract award.
- Proposal Classification: The explicit prohibition on unrestricted Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in proposals was removed.
- Submission: The amendment directs offerors to contact the PIEE Help Desk at 866-618-5988 or visit the PIEE Vendor support page for PIEE-related questions.
- Small Business Subcontracting Plan: Only Other Than Small Businesses under NAICS 541715 must submit a plan.
- Corporate Experience: Offerors can no longer use subcontractor experience to meet the minimum requirement. Offerors must demonstrate recent and relevant experience as a prime contractor in at least two Section C work areas. Small business exception: Small business offerors under NAICS 541715 who cannot meet the minimum with prime experience may still rely on first-tier subcontractor experience.
- Corporate Experience—Joint Ventures (JV) & Mentor-Protégé: New: Small business JVs under NAICS 541715 may use experience from any small business JV member. Other Than Small Business JVs may only use experience where the JV was the Prime or subcontractor. Mentor-Protégé JVs may use experience from either member.
- Corporate Experience Template: An updated version has been released; however, you can still use the previous form.
Key Amendment 0002 Changes
- PIEE File Size: Maximum file size increased to 5MB (previously maxed at 2 MB).
- Subcontracting Plan Value: Small Business Subcontracting Plans must now use a sample dollar value of $151 billion (previously $10 million).
Submission Tips
- Register Early in PIEE: Don’t wait until the last minute. The system requires multiple approvals, and registration can take time. Creating an account the day before the deadline may be too late to submit. Additionally, while Help Desk support is available, they may become overwhelmed as the deadline approaches. Read this guide on getting started with PIEE.
- Practice in PIEE: Log in and learn how to navigate PIEE well before the deadline. Upload a test file if possible so you’re comfortable with the process.
- Update SAM.gov in Advance: Ensure your company’s SAM.gov registration is current and accurately reflects the correct NAICS code, as well as that representatives and certifications are up to date. Changes could take several days to propagate, so verify your status before submitting your proposal.
Topic 1: What is MDA SHIELD?
The Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Multiple Award Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) is a major acquisition activity to deliver an advanced, multi-domain defense system designed to detect, track, intercept, and neutralize threats to the U.S. homeland, deployed forces, allies, and partners across all phases of flight by ballistic, hypersonic, cruise missile, and other advanced aerial attacks. It provides a key contracting vehicle to support the implementation of the Golden Dome. The Multiple Award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (MA-IDIQ) contract supports both classified and unclassified efforts for Department of Defense (DoD) (also referred to as the Department of War) agencies with a focus on providing continuous, layered protection against air, missile, space, cyber, and hybrid threats from any vector, including land, sea, air, space, or cyberspace.
SHIELD emphasizes rapid delivery of innovative capabilities such as artificial intelligence, digital engineering, open systems architectures, and agile processes, and covers a wide range of work areas (19 in total), including research and development (R&D), prototyping, systems engineering, weapon development, integration, production, sustainment, modernization, and cybersecurity. The RFP states that the contract is not intended for Advisory or Assistance Services (A&AS) or Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA), according to Section C of the RFP.
Fast Facts
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Solicitation Number |
HQ085925RE001 (SAM.gov link; PIEE link) |
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Estimated Contract Ceiling |
$151 billion |
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Anticipated Period of Performance |
10 years: Dec. 5, 2025 to Dec. 4, 2035 Base period is three years with three optional ordering periods |
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Customer Agencies |
MDA and other DoD departments and agencies that have requirements for similar supplies or services |
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Competition Type |
Full and Open; no small business set aside tracks |
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Evaluation Method |
The Government will evaluate proposals on an acceptable/unacceptable basis: Acceptable: The offeror has demonstrated recent (within five years of solicitation date) and relevant corporate experience in at least 2 of the 19 IDIQ Section C scope of work areas. Experience can be as a Prime or a Subcontractor. Unacceptable: The offeror has NOT demonstrated recent and relevant corporate experience in at least two IDIQ Section C scope of work areas. |
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# of Awards |
The Government intends to award contracts to every qualifying offeror. A qualifying offeror is one who:
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Anticipated TO Award Type(s) |
Award types will be defined at the Task Order level. |
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Pricing Requirements |
Pricing will be evaluated at the Task Order level and not the IQIQ level. |
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NAICS
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The solicitation is administratively assigned to NAICS 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology); however, the SHIELD IDIQ will cover 44 NAICS codes. Procuring officials will determine and assign the NAICS that best reflects the primary purpose of the individual task/delivery order. |
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Core Services |
Work Areas The SHIELD IDIQ covers 19 technical and engineering activities that support missile defense or related applications. The following work areas outline the types of capabilities the government may seek throughout the life of the contract (but is not limited to):
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Timeline |
Offers are due Oct 10, 2025, 4 p.m. CT (Note: at the time of publication, there is an amendment pending, so this may change.) |
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Minimum Contract Obligation |
The minimum quantity of supplies or services for this contract is $500.00 (issued after awardees attend a post-award conference, submit a capability statement, and submit an Information Management and Control Plan). |
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On Ramps |
Permissible at the Government’s discretion if it is in the Government's best interest to increase the pool of competition among IDIQ contract holders. |
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Teaming is permitted but there are a few guidelines to be aware of:
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SB Subcontracting |
ALL Other Than Small Businesses are required to submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan. *Note: The Government defines “Other Than Small Businesses” as offerors that are Other Than Small Business in ANY of the NAICS codes listed in Attachment C-01 NAICS _Codes* The proposed goals are as follows:
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Submission Portal |
Responses must be submitted via PIEE |
Topic 2: Am I a Good Fit for MDA SHIELD?
Even though the proposal submission requirements are pretty straightforward, there are a few important factors to keep in mind.
First, it’s important to understand that this IDIQ is explicitly not for A&AS or SETA purposes, so if those are the types of services your company provides, this MA-IDIQ may not be a good match. Second, even though the Section C work areas cover a wide range of capabilities, it’s important to note that the government’s end goal is to procure capabilities that, at their core, have a missile defense or similar application. That is vital to keep in mind as you think about the potential client base, too – this is really designed to be used by defense agencies; it is not a gateway to all Federal agencies. (Tip: If you’re second-guessing your company’s alignment to this IDIQ after reading that, give us a call and we will provide a free 30-minute consultation on whether this vehicle is a good fit, or if there are others you should consider.) For awareness, awardees will be off-ramped if they fail to submit a compliant bid at the Task Order level after 12 consecutive months.
Additionally, the Government is looking to move fast on this. Is your company positioned to respond to task order solicitations rapidly and manage multiple, concurrent orders? Speaking realistically, the high contract ceiling and general mission of this IDIQ may jeopardize the vehicle’s longevity as the battlespace and political priorities change. Said another way, this could be a “flash in the pan” opportunity where the “winners” are the companies ready to deliver capabilities on day one.
If you feel like you’re aligned with the scope, client base, and speed of this procurement, read on to see what you need to do now.
Topic 3: Submission Requirements
The SHIELD submission requirements are straightforward, as detailed in Section L of the RFP. To be eligible for award, you must meet all solicitation requirements. (Reminder: The Government intends to award contracts to all qualifying offerors.)
Notably, the Government explicitly states that “elaborate brochures or documentation” will not be evaluated if submitted, so avoid including them. Instead, focus on adhering strictly to the provided templates. Deviating from these templates could result in non-compliance.
For any proposal content outside the government-provided templates, refer to the formatting instructions in Section L-1.4. Proposals must follow the structure and formatting outlined in Table L-1.3 (pages 116-117 of the RFP).
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Section |
Title |
Submission |
Page Limit |
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L-2.0 – Administrative Submissions |
(L-2.1) Administrative Information |
Signed SF33, the content required per FAR 52.215-1 (2)(i) (v) Alternate I, (c) - and L-2.1 paragraphs c through g. To be developed by the offeror using the format provided in L-1.4. |
No page limit |
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(L-2.3.3.3) Foreign Ownership |
SF 328, Attachment L-01 |
8 pages |
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(L-2.3.3.4) Conflict of Interest |
To be developed by the offeror using the format provided in L-1.4. |
1 page |
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(L-2.3.3.5) Unfair Competitive Advantage Under FAR Part 3 |
To be developed by the offeror using the format provided in L-1.4. |
1 page |
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(L-2.4) Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Other Than Small Businesses Only) |
To be developed by the offeror using the format provided in L-1.4. |
No page limit |
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(L-3.0) Technical |
Offeror Response Template, Attachment L-02 FPDS Reports Subcontract Agreement Excerpts Acronyms and Abbreviations |
Offeror Response Template, Attachment L-02 FPDS Reports Subcontract Agreement Excerpts Acronyms and Abbreviations |
Offeror Response Template, L- 02 (total of 8 pages). FPDS printout - no page limitation (as applicable). Subcontract Agreement Excerpts - 2 pages plus signature page per experience (as applicable). Acronyms and Abbreviations - 1 Page Limit |
Topic 4: What to Do Now
To start, download and review the full RFP and all attachments [link] to understand the requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission instructions. Be sure to “Follow” the SAM.gov notice so you can stay up to date with amendments!
If you haven’t already done so, register in the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) Solicitation Module as soon as possible because this is how you will submit your proposal! Notably, the Government is encouraging early submissions, as it anticipates a high volume of responses. (If you’d like to submit early, we recommend waiting until the government answers questions.)
This is also a good time to ensure your company’s SAM.gov registration is active and up to date, and review Attachment C_01_NAICS_Codes to determine if you need to register for additional NAICS codes.
Need help preparing your proposal? Want to avoid last-minute issues with compliance, formatting, or electronic submission? Give us a call!
Written by Karen Haddock and AI
This blog represents a balanced collaboration between AI and Karen Haddock. All AI-generated content is reviewed, corrected, and validated by Trident staff to maintain our commitment to quality and the human touch.
Karen is a proposal manager at Trident Proposal Management and a former U.S. Army Officer with extensive experience in project management, logistics, and education. Based on the East Coast, she supports clients around the world as part of our globally dispersed team.
